We asked and y'all made it happen! Thank you to all the components, members and participants who donated to the Back to School Drive! During our August Board Meeting, all the supplies were delivered to the Fearless Life Church in Waco, Texas where they will be properly distributed!



<3 TDHA Board

The 89th Regular Legislative Session ended on June 2nd. All health care licensure compact bills, which would have created increased efficiency and portability in the state licensing process, did not pass this session. These bills would have impacted occupational therapists, dentists and dental hygienists, licensed professional counselors, physicians’ assistants, dietitians, speech language pathologists and audiologists, and social workers. Governor Abbott also vetoed for the second session in a row the Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill.

In the days immediately following the end of session, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House each declared the session a win for conservative principles, “the most successful ever,” and despite filing yet again a record number of bills (a 700+ increase of filed bills over the 88 th Session), the passage rate remained consistent with historical passage rates—approximately 14 percent of bills filed reached final passage. Governor Abbott issued his final vetoes of the session on 28 bills and announced that the Legislature will begin a Special Session on July 21st. The first part of these 30 days will focus on legislation related to the recent flooding in Texas, and, secondly, on redistricting. There will be no dental-related legislation addressed during the special session.

We want to thank everyone for your time and dedicated effort throughout the session. The 90 th Regular Legislative Session will start January 2027.

Sandy Tesch, RDH, MSHP

TDHA Legislative Director

Denise Rose, Legislative Consultant

Who we are: IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access)

The IDEA Committee is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment that celebrates the diverse voices, backgrounds, and experiences within the dental hygiene profession. Formed in response to a need for greater support and representation, the committee promotes access, cultural competence, and professional growth through advocacy, education, and community engagement. We also aim to provide meaningful support to dental hygienists and dental hygiene students across Texas—empowering them to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to all communities.

Current IDEA Initiatives: 

The IDEA Committee is actively working to support and uplift the dental hygiene community through a variety of initiatives. These include student-focused scholarships such as our Board Review Scholarship and the Loupe & Light Scholarship for dental hygiene students. We are also developing free professional development courses on topics such as caring for individuals with disabilities, providing culturally responsive care, and communicating effectively with Spanish-speaking patients—all aimed at advancing equity and excellence in dental hygiene care.

For More Information Contact

Amber Lovatos, RDH, BSDH

IDEA Chair 

AmLovatos@gmail.com

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East Texas

Rio Grande Valley